Talked to my LHS about installing a digitrax pr3 and decoder pro to program on my digitrax super chief Xtra. Instead he suggested a sprogg. I would be interested in your thoughts/experience with sprogg and decoder pro as a stand alone program track setup, especially with older qsi quantum sound decoders. Thanks all
The current Sprog II is a USB attached device. It can use Decoder Pro on you PC. It also is sort of a 'command station for one'. It cannot be used as a computer interface between your PC and a Digitrax system. I suspect it puts out enough power to program 'problem' sound decoders. Current US cost for a Sprog II is around $70, and you will need a 12-15v DC power supply.
The PR3 is an interface between your Digitrax system and your PC. It does have a 'stand-alone' feature with it's own program track output(as long as you have the PS14 'wall wart' powering it). It has no command station capability, but can download Digitrax 'sound projects' to Digitrax sound decoders. Note that the 'wall wart' is not needed for PC to system mode of operation. MSRP for the PR3 is $85, street price is about $70.
If you have a Digitrax Zephyr or Zephyr Xtra, you have the option of 'Blast Mode' programming to the main track - No need for a programming booster or a Sprog II. To use this mode, go to Decoder Pro 3 and click on Loconet-Configure Command Station and change option 7 to a 'c' - Then do a 'Write'. This will send all programming commands to the full power main track. Just remember when doing this, ALL locomotives on the layout will get 'programmed'! I have a Chief system for the layout, and a Zephyr Xtra in the 'Man Cave' for programming - Blast Mode has programmed every sound decoder I have tried(QSI/MRC/Tsunami/Digitrax/ESU LokSound). A friend just programmed a BLI SD40-2 with Paragon II sound....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Sprog is a somewhat more capable programmer than the PR3, witht he downside that it is NOT a Loconet interface and so always will be a standalone system. Sprog is generally faster at programming than most systems (such as when doing mass reads in JMRI to fill in a roster entry).
Not a huge deal, really, since JMRI supports having more than one interface at a time. My PR3 is always in standalone mode, I never use it as a Loconet interface anyway, I have a Locobuffer for that, so my train room computer has 2 interfaces connected, the PR3 for programming decoders, and the Locobuffer to run the layout.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
One thing that the PR3 may be better for with a Digitrax system is if you have firmware upgrades. With the Sprog you can't do anything with the firmware updates.
I use Sprogg with my Zephyr, only to program decoders with JMRI, nothing else, Works great for me and meets my needs.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Same here. Using a SPROG II to run the programming track with JMRI and program sound decoder and other locomotives. A good secondary interface if you can swing it for programming purposes.
-Bob T.